Typewriting machine



Sept. 25 QZ -A. G. F. KUROWSKE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed oct. 15

patented-Sept. 25, i923.

ALFRED KURO'WSKI, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A SSGNOR T0 UNDEB'WODTYPEVJRITER COMPANY, F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORlDCRATION 0F DELAWARE.

'rrrnwnrrrne MACHINE.

Application filed ctober 15, 1920. Serial No. @17,192. ll

To @ZZ 'whom t may concern.' Y

Be it known that l, ALFRED-G. F. lxUnowsnr, a Citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Brooklyn borough, in the county of' Kings, city andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s inTypewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the line-spacingr mechanism of typewriting;Imachines, particularly those of the type known as the Underwood standardportable typewriter, The main object of the invention is to secureincreased convenience and ease of o aeration of the line-spacingmechanism. ther and more particular objects are to secure these abovenoted advantages without interfering with the compact enclosure of theportablel machine within the usual protective cover or carryingy caseprovided for these machines, and without increasing the number ofoperations heretofore required in closing the cover into place on themachine, or in opening;r or removing the cover part of the casing. Theinvention includes a long line-space lever which may be pivoted on avertical pivot to swing in the direction of the return of the usualcarriage or platen-frame, and to eX- 'tend forward for some dist-ance tothe front of the platen-frame, so as to be both conveniently and easilyoperated, and a fingerpiece forming a tip movably mounted on the forwardend of the line-space lever at .a

l point well forward of the platen and platenrame, vand having a normaltendency, such as by being spring-pressed to rise to an upstandingposition of use in which .it projects above other parts of the machine,but which may be pressed down by the cover or casing to a lower positionin compact relation to the forward end of the line-space lever, so

as to provide for the enclosure of the machine within its usual cover orcarrying case, and which will rise automatically to its upstandingposition when the pressure thereon of the cover is removed. Therefore,only the two usual operations of closing or putting on the cover, and ofopening or taking it off are required.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the left end of the .platen frame `andplaten of an Underwood portable typewriting machine having embodiedtherein the improved linespacing mechanism of the present invention.

lfigure 2 is a front elevation, with parts omitted, of the left end ofthe machine enclosed within its casing, transverse vertical section.

Figure 3' is an enlarged view of the forward end of the line-space leverand the foldable finger-piece carried thereby, shown partly 1n plan viewand part-ly in horizontal section, toillustrate the mountingV of thefoldable finger-piece.

- ln the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, ausual platen 1 is Journaled by-means of `its axle 2 in a usual platenframe, or carriage, of which the left end wall 3 appears in Figures 1and 2. The platen l is provided with a usual line-space wheel et, theteeth of which are engageable by an actuating stud 5 projectinglaterallyfrom the free end of a line-space pawl 6, pivoted at 7 to aninwardly-extending lever arm- 8 shown as forming part of aforwardly-extending line-space lever 9 which is pivoted by mea'nsof avertical pivot-stud 10 on a lug' 11A proj ectinpl from the outer side ofthe rear part of the end wall 3 of the platen frame. l ear thepivot-stud 10, the line-spacelever 9 is shown as slightly offsetupwardly at 12 in order to clear the top of the end wall 3 -of theplaten frame, and from this offset 12 the line-space lever 9 is straightand extends substantially horizontally forward beyond the end wall 3 toa point wit-hin easy reach of the operator, above and at'the back of,end part 13 which is at right angles to the main lever part 9, andwhich, in the normal.

position of the line-space lever shown in the drawings, is substantiallyparallel to the platen 1. The end of this transverse lever part 13 isprovided at the front thereof with which is shown in til@ a shoulderedscrew-stud 141 forming a pivotal support for a finger-piece 15, 'forminga tip on the end of the line-space levervat a point well forward of' theplaten and platentrame, and which in its normal upstanding positionrises from a point to the leit of the pivot-stud 1-1 on al curvelaterally toward the left, so that the upper rounded end of thislinger-piece l5 occupies a position at an angle ot' about` 'forty-livedegrees upward and to the lett ot the axis of the pivot-stud 14, asshown in full lines in Figure 1 and in broken lines in Figure 2. 'A heelpart 16 forms a short downward continuation of the inner curve of thelinger-piece 15 below and at the left of the pivot-stud 14, and thisheelpart 16 carries a rear wardly-proj ecting stoplug 1T which normallyabuts against the lower side of the transverse end part 13 of theline-space lever 9 to prevent the fingerpiece 15 from turning overtoward the right when pressure is applied to .effect a linespacingoperation, but permitting the iingerpiece 15 to be folded toward theleft and downwardly alongside of and in compact. relation to the leverend part 13v from the broken-line position indicated in Figure 2 tov thefull-line position there shown. A

A coiled torsion spring 18 .is contained and concealed within a circularchannel 19 formed in the front face of the lever end part 13, the rearend of this spring 18 being anchored to the lever end 13 in a recess 2()at the bottom oit the channel 19, and the other or forward end of thisspring being turned outwardly and received into a recess 21 in theadiacent face of the linger-piece 15, the spring 18 being arranged toexert a clockwise torque on the finger-piece 15 as viewed from thefront, for thereby normally yieldingly holding the stop-lug 17 againstthe lever part 13 with the finger-piece 15 in its normal upstandingposition of use, shown in Figure 1 in full lines and as indicated inbroken lines in Figure 2. By reason of this'construction, thefinger-piece 1) will have a tendency to, and will normally occupy, anupstanding position ready for use to e'ect a line-spacing operation, butmay be pressedl downward to the above-described position of non-use fromwhich it will automatically return when released to the normalupstanding position of use.

Inits .upstanding position of use, the finger-piece 15 projectssubstantially throughout its full length above other elevated parts ofthe machine, such Jfor example, as the upper end of the pivot-stud 10and the top of;

' the usual paper-table 22 which forms a part of the platen frame, andas will be clear from an inspection of Figure 2. In Figure 2, the loweror main body part 23 of the,

typewriting machine is shown diagrammatically in outline below theplaten 1 and supports the end wall 3 and other parts of the which abox-like casing part or cover 26v 4 forms the remainder oi' the completecasing. The cover part 26 may be removably secured in place on thebottom or base part 25 by any suitable means, not shown, but wellunderstood in the art. lVhen the cover part 26 is placed in position`over the machine, the top wall of this cover part 26, as this cover ispushed down to the iinal position thereof shown in Figure 2, will comein contact with the rounded upper end of the upstanding finger-piece 15,and as the cover part 26 descends will push the finger-piece 15angularly downward from'the upstand` ing position of use thereof shownin Figure 1 and indicated in broken lines in Figure 2, to the compactfolded position of non-use thereof shown in full lines in Figure 2,below and in contact with the inner surface of the top. wall of theenclosing cover part 26 of the casing.

After the cover part 26 has been secured in place on the base part 25ofthe easing, the closed easing with the typewriter firmly held thereinmay be conveniently carried in like manner to a small suitcase bymeansof a suitable loop handle provided for that purpose, and as is wellunderstood by those familiar with portable typewriting machines. Thebase part or bottom 25 usually forms one. of the larger sides of theenclosing case, and the top wall of the cover part 26 forms the oppositelarger side of the casing. Vhen the machine is to be used the casingrests -upon its base 25, and the enclosing' upper cover part 26 isremoved, whereupon the `spring-pressed linger-piece 15 will thenautomatically rise from its folded position of non-use shown in fulllines in Figure 2 to the upstanding position ofuse thereofl shown inbroken lines in Figure 2 and in full lines in Figure 1. i

ln the operation of the device it,will be clear from the foregoingdescription that the long forwardly-extending line-space lever 9 withits transversely turned forward end part 13, provided with the normallyupstanding foldable finger-piece 15, provides both easy and convenientmeans for operating the line-spacing mechanism, and also provides forthe safe, compact and complete enclosure of the typewriting machineWithin its usual carrying case comprising the base i part 25 and thecover' part 26.

Also, intheoperation ofthe device, it is to be noted that it is onlynecessary to place fthe cover 26 over the machine in the usual-improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a typewriting machine having a rotative platen, line-spacingmechanism therefor, including an upstandmg. fingerpiece mounted for-`movement to a lower position when out of use, said finger-piece having anormal tendency to. rise to its upstanding position and being adapted tobe pressed downward to its 'lower position of non-use by a cover for themachine, and to rise automatically to its upstanding position of usewhen the pressure of the cover is removed.

2. In combination, in a typewritingmachine having a rotativeplaten and acasing for themachine, line-space mechanism forthe platen, includingafinger-piece adapted to be pressed .from normal position to a positionof non-use by a section of the casing enclosing the latter, and meansfor automatitally returning the finger-piece to its normal position,'for operation thereof. when the casinor is removed from thefinger-piece'.

In combination, in a typewritingl machine, a rotative platen andline-spacing mechanism for the platen including a forwardly-extendingline-space lever, a normally upstanding downwardly-movable fingerpiecemovablymounted on the forward end of the line-space lever, and yieldingmeans for automatically returning the finger-piece from a lowered to theupstanding position and for normally holding it at the upstandingposition; and a cover for theA machine engageable with the upstandingfinger-piece to press it downward to its lowered position when the coveris placed on the machine, and enabling said yielding means to return thefinger-piece to its upstanding position when the cover is lifted fromthe machine. 4C. In` combination, in a typewriting ma- -chirie,` arotative platen and line-spacing mechanism for the platen including afor- .wardly-extending line-space lever and a' normally-upstandingdownwardly-foldable finger-piece pivotally mounted on the forward end ofthe line-space lever, said lingerpiece having a normal tendency to swingto its upstanding position and being adapted to be pressed downward toits folded position by a cover for the machine and to rise automaticallyto its upstanding position when the pressure of the cover is removed.

5. In combination, in a typewriting machine, a rotative platen andlline-spacing mechanism for the platen including a forwardly extendinghorizontally movable line-space lever provided with a lateralinwardly-extending forward end part, and a normally-upstandingfinger-piece pivoted to said inwardly-extending end part of theline-space lever to fold laterally outwardly and downwardly to aposition of non-use alongside of said inwardly-extending end part of theline-space lever, said fingerpiece having a normal tendency to swing toits upstanding position and being adapted to be pressed downward to itsfolded position by a cover for the machine and to rise automatically toits upstanding position of use when the pressure of the cover isremoved.

6. In combination, in a typewriting machine, a rotative platen andline-spacing mechanism for the platen including a forwardly-extendinghorizontally-movable linespace lever provided with a lateralinwardlyextending forward end part, an upwardly and laterally outwardlycurved finger-piece normally upstanding from` the line-space lever andpivoted on said inwardly-extending end part of the line-space lever tofold laterally outward andcdownward alongside thereof, and yieldingmeans for automatically returning the finger-piece to and for normallyholding it atthe upstanding position; and a. cover for the machineengageable with the upstanding finger-piece to press it downward uto itsfolded position when the cover is placed on the machine and to enablesaid yielding means to return the fingerpiec'e from its folded toitsupstanding position when the cover is lifted.

7. In combination, in a typewriting machine, a rotative platen, a platenframe iny which the platen is journaled, and linespacing mechanism forthc platen including a line-space lever pivoted on the platen frame andprojecting forward from the platen frame, an upstanding,downwardly-Afoldable finger-piece pivotally mounted on the forward end of theline-space lever, and yielding means for automatically returning thefinger-piece from its folded to 4its upstanding position and forAnormally holding it at the upstanding position; and a cover for themachine engageable with the upstanding finger-piece to press it down tothe folded position when the cover is placed on the machine, whereby thefinger-piece may project for line-spacing use and may fold out of theway of the cover.

8. In combination, in a typewriting machine, a rotative platen,'a platenframe in which the platen is .journaled, and linespacing mechanism forthe platen including a horizontally-movable line-space lever pivotedonand extending forward from one end of the platen fra-me, the line-spacelever inger-piece pivoted to the said transversely extending end part ofthe line-space lever, so as to fold laterally outward and down- Wardalongside of said transversely-extending end part of the line-spacelever to a pos1t1on ol' non-use, said inger-p1ece having a normalltendency tomove automatically toits upwardly projecting position ofuse.

9. In comblnation, in a typewriting machine, a rotative platen, a platenframefm which the platen is journaled, and linespacing mechanism for theplaten .including a horizontally-movable line-space lever pivoted on andextending l'orward from one end of the platen frame, the linespace leverbeing provided with a forward end part extending from the main part ot'the lever horizontally inward substantially at right angles to thelmainpart of the lever, an upwardly and laterally outwardly curvedfinger-piece pivoted to the said inwardlyextending end part of theline-space lever, so as to fold laterally outward and d0wnward alongsideof said inwardly-extending end part of the line-space lever to aposition of non-use, and a spring concealed between the saidinwardly-extending end ypart of the line-space lever and thefinger-piece for rocking the latter upon its pivot from its foldedposition-of non-use to its upstanding position of use and for normallyyieldingly holding it at this position of use.

l0. In combination, in a typewriting machine, a rotative platen, aplaten frame in which the platen is journaled, and linespacing mechanismfor the platen including` a. horizontally-movable line-space leverpivoted on and' extendingv forward from one end ofthe platen frame, theline-space lever 'being provided with a forward end part extending' fromthe main part of the lever horizontally' inward Substantially at rightlar'xglcs to the main part of the lev'er, an upwardly and laterallyoutwardly curvedl normally upstandingI finger-piece pivoted to the saidinwardly-extending end'part of the line-space lever, so as, to foldlaterally outward and downward alongside of said.

inwardly-extending. end part of the linespace leverto a position ofnon-use, a colled torsion springsurrounding the pivotal axis oi thevfinger-piece and concealed' between Witnesses CATHERINE A. NnwnLIJENNIE P. THORNE.

